You Make It Feel like Christmas

Lewis Family #1

by Toni Shiloh

It's the most wonderful time of the year--for everyone except Starr Lewis.

As if going home for the holidays jobless and single wasn't bad enough, she's dragged into a holiday season full of activities leading up to her sister's uber-romantic Christmas Eve wedding--to Starr's ex-boyfriend. But when her brother's best friend, Waylon Emmerson, attends their family Thanksgiving, she starts to wonder if maybe coming home for Christmas isn't so bad after all.

As Starr finds the perfect distraction in helping Waylon make over his late mother's Christmas shop, the most wonderful time of the year works its magic and the spark between them grows. But with the holidays fast approaching, Starr must decide what she wants out of life after the gifts are unwrapped and the ornaments are put away--to go back to New York City or to open her heart to a love that will last beyond Christmas Day?

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Audiobook, Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Fiction

198 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2023

About the author

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and an award-winning Christian contemporary romance author. A native of Texas, she now lives in northern Virginia. Learn more at http://tonishiloh.com.

Reviews

[logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

disclaimer: it’s a cute & festive christmas novella but the further into you get, the more religious it gets lol which i wasn’t expecting. nothing crazy just LOTS of prayers and talks of god’s plans, etc. so if that’s not your thing maybe skip this one. it was still enjoyable tho, short & sweet novella, very wholesome. she's home for the holidays for the first time in years, and her brother's best friend is spending the holidays with them. she helps him bring his moms christmas store back to life. he is soo smitten.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not realize this was a Christian romance when I picked it up, nor when I first began reading it. The first 1/4 of the book gave no hint but then the Christian factor amps up as the book goes on. But with that said, the religious element is nowhere near as strong as some reviewers make it out to be. Much of the prayers are one-line thoughts like "Lord, help me through this day" and only in the last 1/4 does the talk become slightly more detailed. But even then, I did not find this excessively religious, although it could a bit jarring if you're not expecting it.

I found this to be a nice, easy holiday novella that really gives you a feel for the winter season and a bit of Washington, DC too, with talk of local festive activities. There's family drama, a bit of merry schmaltz, and a sweet chaste romance with a familiar family friend. A perfect fit for those who want a relaxed romance with a side of sister strain, all set in the Christmas season.

[Oceana Reads Co. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

I had a great time reading this Christmas novella!
We follow a late twenties woman named Starr. She is laid off from her job, so she goes home for the holidays with this secret. We also follow an early thirties dude named Waylon who sounds like a very fine man😁 Waylon is Starr's brother's best friend. Yep, it's a brother's best friend trope. Mmmhmm, yes please.

There is also a big pile of family drama since Starr's sister, Angel, is getting married to Starr's EX-BOYFRIEND. Yeah, not cool. We don't like Angel at the beginning.

Starr's brother asks Waylon to befriend Starr so that she isn't so lonely this holiday. Of course Waylon agrees because Starr is cute and who wouldn't want to keep her company? lol.

Story goes from there. It's short, but there's a lot in it!

What I liked:
-the cold, cozy, Christmas vibes
-Starr and Waylon = adorable
-the faith! Toni's signatures "I'll be praying for you," "Have you prayed about it?" lines are much appreciated
-clever lines. her characters are funny and I like seeing their thoughts during conversation

Misses for me:
-the family drama with Angel felt immature and it was annoying to read. Could have done without that. I wish the conflict there was something else.
-I'll be honest - it is insta-love. Big time. So there was some cheesiness that made me roll my eyes a little.

I would totally recommend this book! A great Christmas novella to add to your TBR.

I was sent this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and the author!

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This was such a sweet and heartwarming Christmas novella. My first book by Toni Shiloh, and I’ll definitely be reading more!

Starr is home for the holidays… but it’s not the Christmas she had planned for. On top of being laid off right before Christmas, her sister is marrying her exboyfriend. Oye. But reconnecting with her brother’s best friend, Waylon, makes things better.

I loved Starr and Waylon together. For this being a shorter book, it had a lot of story and a lot of heart. This couple made me smile big and their romance made my heart happy. Plus, there was an emphasis on the real reason for the season and I loved that. A great read for me!

Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Jasmin Walker
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Christian Romance
Length: 3h 51m

[Shawnaci Schroeder · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ⭐️

- This was such a cute story! It’s so hard to find Christian reads and I really enjoyed this one because it was so fluffy & fun. It was nice to see a main character that didn’t have her life fully together because it’s so rare to see that in books.
- Wish that I had gotten to see the chemistry of the fmc and mmc build a little slower. It felt like it went from 0 to 100, but that could also be because it’s a novella!
- Loved that this book had an additional storyline on the side to keep the readers invested! I always find that romances with other little side plots are my favorite to read. Also loved that there was tons of dialogue!

[Ashley G. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was barely romantic. Every inner dialogue the characters could have had was had directly with God. Too many times.

Very faith forward if you are into that

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even better than a Hallmark Christmas movie! Toni Shiloh is quickly becoming a favorite, must read author. I love her relatable characters and the natural way she weaves faith throughout her stories. You Make it Feel Like Christmas is a fun, funny, age gap, brother’s best friend, quick read with a sweet, swoony romance, and all the Christmas feels. It left me with a huge smile on my face, completely satisfied, yet not ready to let go of Waylon, Starr, and her delightful family.

After recently being laid off from her New York job and with her sister’s upcoming wedding to her ex-boyfriend, Starr Lewis isn’t looking forward to coming home for the Thanksgiving & Christmas holidays. She decides it isn’t too bad though when her older brother’s handsome best friend, Waylon Emmerson comes for Thanksgiving dinner. Dealing with her sister Angel and seeing her ex-boyfriend isn’t easy, but Waylon is always there with fun, holiday adventures to take her mind off her problems.

Waylon’s still recovering from recently loosing his mother. He’s inherited her Christmas shop & Starr is just the expert he needs to help him keep it afloat. As Waylon keeps Starr’s spirits up after her bridezilla sister’s shenanigans, she helps him with new, exciting ideas for his shop. As their relationship grows, both have important decisions to make regarding their futures. Will their decisions take them far apart or make their Christmas dreams come true?

There was so much packed into this sweet novella. I loved how it explored mending fences, and strengthening sibling relationships. I enjoyed Starr’s fun, close knit family dynamics. Waylon’s adorable and I loved his funny one liners and slightly cheesy pickup lines. I loved the unique candle gifts, the ornament, and all the Christmas holiday adventures. I also appreciated how faith was a natural everyday occurrence in the characters’ lives and didn’t seem forced or in any way preachy. These characters quickly became friends you hate to leave.

Highly recommend this fun, delightful, Christmas romance! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are completely my own and voluntarily provided.

[Wobilba · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by Toni Shiloh and it definitely won’t be my last. I loved this book. It was a cute and heartwarming Christmas novella that gave me so many feels. Starr and Waylon so sweet and cute. I love them. Starr’s family especially her sister Angel and ex brought the drama but Starr got the last laugh in the end and a happily ever after.

[Christine Lucia Asha · Rating 2 out of 5]

MUST READ BOOKS in every genre:
Thriller Say Goodbye
Memoir The Yellow House
SciFi Murder by Memory
Romance Time Loops & Meet Cutes

This was a cute and fun story but it was bogged down with weird writing and random prayers and talking to god......

"A glance at the clock and some mental time zone conversion told him his sister was most likely reading for bed. Maybe she could spare a moment to talk to him.

Hey, baby brother. What a timely phone call. I just ended a chapter.

God knew I needed your undivided attention."

?? what ?? ALSO ?? why ??

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well this was a dud!

I should start off by saying that You Make It Feel Like Christmas is Christian Fiction, so if talk of God and prayer puts you off I'd pass on this one. That's not my problem with this book. I'm not religious but I wasn't bothered by prayer talk. What bothered me was the fact that Starr and Waylon have ZERO chemistry. I felt nothing towards them. Really the only feelings I had were my intense dislike of Starr's sister and her parents. Her sister is sociopath and her parents don't love Starr...they might like her but I don't think they be upset if she died.....also I know the author didn't intend for me to think this but Starr's dad is having a affair right?

I'm as usual when it comes to Romance in the minority with this book because the ratings I've seen are all very good but this one is a miss for me.

[Amanda (BookLoverAmanda) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Make it Feel Like Christmas - Toni Shiloh - 3.5 Stars - A Cute Hallmark Style Christmas Story!
Blog Post & Graphic: here.

This book is great for lovers of Hallmark Style Christmas stories during the Christmas season! As Starr Lewis returns home for the holidays, jobless and single, she isn't happy to be dragged into her sister's wedding plans - because she's getting married to Starr's ex-boyfriend on Christmas eve! However, when Starr meets her brother's best friend, Waylon Emmerson, at their family's Thanksgiving get together....she starts the think maybe coming home isn't so bad as she starts to enjoy hanging out with Waylon and forgetting all about the festivities with her sister's wedding. For Waylon, this is a perfect distraction to help keep him busy as he is struggling with the loss of his mother and trying to keep her old Christmas shop alive....the story goes on from here as Waylon and Starr's stories unfold.

I love what Toni Shiloh does in the Christian Fiction market - she always weaves faith in her stories and I appreciate her so much in that regard. I really liked seeing how Waylon's was working on his mother's Christmas store he was taking care of and I think this could be a story that could potential help others going through something similar during the holiday season. This book will get you in the holiday spirit and I think it would be a fun one to start during Thanksgiving since it starts off at a Thanksgiving celebration.

I really enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere, cozy elements and nice faith content. I do think the drama with the sister's wedding festivities with Starr's ex-boyfriend took away from the story for me a bit as that is not always my favorite trope or storyline, personally. Her sister was a bit too rude for me but the ending was a nice resolution. The romance was a bit rushed for me as well but I think that's due to the shortness of the story and us not having a ton of time to truly get to sit with our characters as they got to know one another.

Overall, I think this is a quick, cute Christmas read that many of you will enjoy during the Christmas season with lots of hallmark cheese that many enjoy during the holidays. I thank Toni Shiloh for always giving us nice, light hearted reads with clean romances and faith elements.

Thank you for Bethany House and Toni Shiloh for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All opinions are my own.

[Janelle King · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite out of the three Toni Shiloh books I’ve read. It gave me all the Christmas vibes, and I loved watching Starr and Waylon’s relationship develop over all the Christmasy dates they had. This gives Christian Hallmark but in ALL the right ways. This is one I can definitely see myself rereading at the start of the next Christmas season. 🥰

[KaylasBookishVibes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay.... this was cute holiday romance. I had no clue it was Christian fiction so that was a plus! 🥰 It was definitely cheesy but if there’s anytime of year where I want to read a cheesy romance it would be Christmas time. I’m glad I waited so late in the month to read it though. 🤣 Quick read for me, I thought the length was perfect. The couple was adorable and the conflict with the sister kept it interesting for me. 3 🌟

[breena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
the writing & the story was actually incredible. the growth in relationships with Starr and her family was so heartwarming, plus the romance between Waylon & Starr was so cute 🫂

[Milena Bookish❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming tale about family, exploring the complex relationships between siblings during the Christmas season, and the contrast between perceptions and reality. Christian Romance with lovable characters and a great plot with a surprise little twist.

"Praying is easy, but I've always found listening to be the hard part"

Starr returns home for the holidays and her sister Angel's wedding after being laid off from work. Though she's not too keen on being a part of the wedding as her ex-boyfriend is her sister's fiancé, she finds solace in spending time with Waylon, her big brother's best friend. As she helps Waylon with his late mother's Christmas shop, the two share fun banter and their relationship becomes cozy, exciting, and deliciously swoony. Starr's journey toward forgiveness and sisterly love is tough but ultimately rewarding. I appreciated how the main character's faith was woven into everyday situations. Whether you enjoy Christmas-themed books year-round or prefer to save them for the season, you will undoubtedly fall in love with Starr and Waylon and thoroughly enjoy this book.

I received a complimentary eARC courtesy of Bethany House Publishing. All opinions are my own.

[Cara Putman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas novella from author Toni Shiloh. Starr doesn't want to go home for the holidays for many reasons. She just lost her job making her feel like a failure when all her siblings are highly successful. Her sister is about to marry her former boyfriend. And Starr just doesn't feel like she fits. It's going to be a hard season. Then her oldest brother's friend steps in and she finds herself spending time helping him market his Christmas shop. He's inherited it from his mom and investing his holidays with her family so he's not alone. The more time they spend together, the more sparks fly. One thing I love about Toni's books are the richness of spiritual thread, and she does the same in this book. It might be short, but it's rich and well layered. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it. It'll put you in the holiday mood without being overly light and fluffy.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Christmas novel/novella. This is an expansion of I'll Be Home.

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Officially making Toni Shiloh's You Make It Feel Like Christmas, my favorite Christmas love story of all time! If you want a sweet, little bit cheesy (but in a good way) romance, you have to read this book!!

Starr is on her way home for the holidays and a big wedding, a wedding where her sister is marrying her ex-boyfriend. She is not in the mood for it, and also not prepared for the hunky guy to come to her door (how had her brother's best friend gotten so cute?)

I loved the characters so much, and would love to see more romances ensue with the characters in this family. Honestly, I don't read Christmas books before Thanksgiving usually, but I could read this book anytime of the year.

*thank you Toni Shiloh for a copy of this book and thank you for allowing me to be on her launch team.

[arpit · Rating 1 out of 5]

not my first read of the year being a 1 star read 🥲

the reason i disliked this book was because for a novella that was only 150ish pages the author spent too much time talking about religion than actually developing the story or the characters

[Adrianna Pryor · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet and perfect to get into the holidays!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Toni Shiloh simply because I was drawn to the cover, and I am officially in my Christmas romance era. I did read a couple of reviews beforehand, so I knew going into it that it was a Christian book, and I do think you have to be okay with that before you pick it up. I don't really read Christian fiction, but decided to still give it a read and I'm glad I did! It has just the right amount of religious aspects that doesn't make it over the top or preachy, and it fits so well into the storyline that it certainly feels like it belongs there.

I loved each and every one of the characters, especially Starr and Waylon, and the romance is super sweet. This is actually a reprint which I wasn't aware of, and it is super short as well with the audiobook being just under 4 hours long. I listened to this in one sitting, and even though we do end up getting both Starr and Waylon's viewpoints, I thought our sole narrator Jasmin Walker did a wonderful job all around. The Christmas aspect of the book isn't all that pronounced, but it did create more of a festive atmosphere. Being as short as it is, You Make It Feel Like Christmas read a bit like a novella, but it was the perfect length, and I wasn't left feeling wanting. I think if you are a fan of Christian romance and are looking for a short and cute read, this would be a great choice!

[Gabija. Keista Skaitytoja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miela, trumpa, jauki Kalėdinė istorija. 🎄 ir tiek🤷‍♀️ manau greit apie ją pamiršiu😅 klausiau, nebuvo, kad labai įtrauktų, bet ir nesinorėjo nebaigti🤭

[Alysha (For The Love of Christian Fiction) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that the title encompasses the feelings the characters have throughout the book. Both are struggling with the holiday season for different reasons, but they find that love and family really do make the holidays!

The Grinch says it perfectly “Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!,’ ”

Her family really, truly bothered me. It always makes me sad when families chose to turn a blind eye to an awful person. I’m just thankful there was redemption for them. And it was a great reminder that we are not always likable people, but God still extends grace and forgiveness. (Even when we 10,000% don’t deserve it.)

It was a super fast, light Hallmark read. If you’re looking for that this season with wonderful prayers, this is the book for you!


*I received this book from the author*All opinions are my own*

[Lia Ross Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sooooo cute! I could not put it down. I’m all for a holiday romance. The family gave The Huxtables vibes and it was squeaky clean, just kisses. The perfect cozy read.

[Melanie (lemonyreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was and easy to read romcom that had some nice moments of faith and family relationships.

There were some good lines like this one... "If I knock myself out, just kiss me awake."
The Christmas atmosphere was nice.

THOUGHTS:
The romance was fast food. Rushed and not as good as advertised.

A novella is round 160 pages. This book is 171. (It's a freaking novella) There was no time to develop anything of substance. Also, The MC would only compliment Starr on how pretty she was. "You look fantastic"... "It was the glow from your beauty." There's more to a woman than how pretty she looks with makeup on.

The dialogue had a few good lines and scenes but overall, I was bored out of my mind. There's nothing particularly memorable about this book for me but I can see why people would like it.

OVERALL:
This is quick and easy to read. It has a fast romance with faith throughout. It didn't work for me but It might work for you.

*All opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you Netgalley for a free copy.*

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

I really, really enjoyed this sweet Christmas story! The love story between Waylon and Starr was so romantic and poignant. I have been on a Christmas reading kick the last 2 months and this is one of my favorites. Toni Shiloh writes a beautiful story with a strong Christian message. Highly recommend!

[Chrissy Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You Make It Feel Like Christmas" by Toni Shiloh is a delightful holiday novella that effortlessly hits all the happy buttons. The characters, portrayed with maturity in their relationships, communicate with grace and love, making the story resonate with authenticity. Shiloh skillfully weaves a narrative where characters embrace growth with open hearts. This novella is a heartwarming addition to the holiday reading list, earning a solid four-star rating for its warmth and genuine portrayal of love and growth.

[Tee Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute and much needed cheesy read! It was a plate cleanser.

Toni did an amazing job with this story. I loved it and would love to see Starr’s story in more depth!

[Sarah Vigue · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute

[Kriste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story :)